Through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed of the European Union (RASFF), between September 2020 and April 2024, products were notified 527 times (525 food and 2 feed) due to the content of ethylene oxide. The majority of these (313) belonged to nuts and sesame seeds, in 60 cases herbs and spices, in 48 cases dietetic foods and in 34 cases other food products. 87 consignments were rejected at the EU border, while the majority of them were allowed to continue and were removed during subsequent market inspections.

India was the sole origin country for the majority of mentioned products (332 cases). In the EU, there is a low limit of 0.1 mg/kg for the carcinogenic ethylene oxide and its metabolites (2-chloroethanol and ethylene glycol). The substance is likely widely used against Salmonella andE. coli. Chemical treatment is the cheapest method to achieve a longer shelf life. Most countries do not test for the compound, which makes it difficult to get a better picture. Exporters have been advised to test in 2021. Still, given the number of contaminated products, the Indian products have not yet met the quality mark.

In India, according to an April 2024 regulation, the pesticide residue limit for herbs and spices was increased 10 times (from 0.01 mg/kg to 0.1 mg/kg). This caused outrage, and environmental organizations are demanding the sharing of data supporting the decision. According to critics, field trial data are not available for all pesticides, and the monitoring scheme does not include spices. FSSAI itself, the Indian authority, mentioned in a 2022 order that there were no field trial data for the majority of Indian pesticides. In such cases the Codex MRL values are used. And in the EU, the default limit value is 0.01 mg/kg, if there is no specific MRL value.

The new Indian regulation states that for unregistered pesticides, the MRL for herbs and spices is 0.1 mg/kg. According to recent data, pesticide residues were detected in 35.9% of products in India in 2022-23, compared to 22.6% in 2018-19. According to critics, it is also worth considering that if India relaxes the regulations, its products will be rejected in export markets, which will put importers in a favorable position.

Meanwhile, Indian spice products (MDH and Everest brands) were banned in Singapore and Hong Kong due to their high ethylene oxide content, after which the Indian FSSAI and the US FDA also started investigations.

According to recent data, since October 2023, the amount of rejected spice-related shipments from MDH has doubled to 31% in the USA.

These popular Indian spice brands are also distributed on EU markets.